DracoLunarisPrincess Sarashina
Fancy Tea Shop, Shinto City
The tea Rider shared with her master was of the sort that was only just mild, only just comforting. For what the tea was, its invention left it with an age little more than even a century. But, for her, who was a thousand years too early to experience it, something like the Hōjicha she was quietly sipping could only be called an oddity.
Of course, that categorization was where any of its value to Rider abruptly ceased. The only reason it had even graced her lips was because Kiyo had purchased it for her. She had certainly not come from a timeless place where the graveyards of legends were stored over mere tea. Her master had called, and she had came. The curiosities of the modern world didn't interest Rider in the slightest, at least not in regard to herself.
But if that girl appreciated something, then so would she. Rider would never deny her Masters earnest feelings.
Ever.
It was really that simple to her. Like, the breathing thing those sacks of ape meat calling themselves humans did every waking moment. Ah, her Master was indeed something special. Rider couldn't take her eyes off of her for even a single moment as she fiddled with her notes and papers.
What an earnest person.
While her master was in thought, Rider did nothing more than occasionally sip from her tea, nursing it as if it was something precious. Although being among the sky piercing buildings which were of a decidedly barbarian design had been disconcerting at first, she was honestly pretty relaxed. Everything so far was going as it should, so there really was no reason to worry.
However, Kiyomi's attention seemed to return to focusing on Rider after the girl wrapped up examining her various papers and notes.
"The aftertaste has the tinniest hint of iron. But then again, you want our next drink to be of blood instead of tea, right? I won't object to something like that."
Her shrug gave off airs of exasperation, but her eyes betrayed the sort of excitement only a monster could have in this sort of situation. In the end, birds of a feather flocked together. Right? Speaking of birds. . . .
Rider went about giving those familiars 'blessing', as requested. Enhancing their overall force of existence which itself was a sort of curse would be nothing for her, whose very being was sufficed with a truly ancient one.
"Really, now. For someone who is my Nyoin, you should really treat me to a proper meal before the night. Perhaps the Taizan? I hear their spicy entrees are a special treat. Ah, if only."
The implications of her words meaning were too obvious to be even stated here. With that much stated, she stood up and began to follow her master to the Fuyuki Civic Center. The business there held priority for the moment; the local Chieftain had to be subjugated, after all. That was only to be expected, but. . .
In the end, Rider wasn't someone who distinguished between playtime and the chaos of the war, after all. Although, perhaps what would happen to their tongues after visiting that cursed Chinese food shop would be worse than any result of this Holy Grail War.
That's what her divinations had told her, at least.
. . .Really, this Heisei Era had too much ape-meat fumbling about on the surface. This provincial backwater situated in Kyushu was itself already larger than the Capital of her time. That, certainly, was not a good thing.
Another product of barbarian influences, to be certain. Everything had been subsumed by cities of stone and metal and unnecessary conveniences.
Of course, even if she was taking things casually right now, she was still the Great Witch of Togakushi-Yama. Divination to ensure the safety of their tongues was merely just the start.
Monitoring the atmosphere, the theoretical element, and the beat of the pulse beneath their feet. Not only that, but additional countermeasures against detection through magical energy and metaphysical transliners through providence, as well. It could be called the basics of the basics in terms of avoiding detection by a Ghost Liner, but in the case of a modern Magus, their jaw would probably drop.
. . .And not even because Momiji beat their head in for seeing her craft, even if that would still probably occur. Much simpler things such as self-mnemonic suppression to avoid notice by not only normal people, but also familiars as well were being employed. In the end, the greatest countermeasure against the likes of Assassins or Casters was not allowing one to become their target in the first place.
By employing her Shapeshift skill to blend in among the native ape-meat, she could even fool the likes of visual recognition.
Even so, her mood soured a little bit, and it would become a little apparent that was indeed the case. Her smile slowly dissipated, and she adjusted the glasses of the rather plain looking Japanese woman she now appeared as.
After all, it would be hard to select visual markers and features her Master preferred right now, since she hadn't asked yet.
How troublesome. How annoying. How useless.
What was even the point if her Master wouldn't be pleased?
